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SGO Issues Top Five Choosing Wisely Recommendations

SGO Issues Top Five Choosing Wisely Recommendations

(HealthDay News) – The top five gynecologic oncology-related issues that physicians and patients should question have been released by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign.

A "Cost of Care" workgroup reviewed the literature to identify areas of overutilization or unproven clinical benefits, as well as areas of underutilization in relation to evidence-based guidelines. The data were evaluated and a list of five topics were agreed upon by the clinical practice committee and the SGO Board of Directors.

The top five recommendations are: (1) avoiding CA-125 screening or ultrasound for ovarian cancer for low-risk women; (2) Papanicolaou (Pap) tests should not be performed for surveillance of women with a history of endometrial cancer; (3) colposcopy should not be performed in patients treated for cervical cancer with Pap tests of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or less; (4) for women with gynecologic cancer, specifically ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancer, routine imaging should be avoided for cancer surveillance; and (5) for women with advanced or relapsed gynecologic cancer, basic level palliative care should not be delayed, and when appropriate, referral should be provided for specialty level palliative medicine.

"The Choosing Wisely recommendations for gynecologic oncology released today provide valuable information to help patients and physicians discuss treatment options that will impact survival and quality of life," SGO president Barbara A. Goff, MD, said in a statement.